Kentucky governor readies for Medicaid legal challenge

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) – Kentucky’s Republican governor says he will shut down the state’s expanded Medicaid program if the courts stop his plan for some people to work to keep their health benefits.

Friday, the federal government approved Governor Matt Bevin’s plan to impose work requirements on some Medicaid recipients. Bevin also issued an executive order directing his administration to end the program should any part of his plan be struck down by the courts.

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Kentucky expanded its Medicaid program in 2014 to include able-bodied adults of certain income levels. More than 400,000 people got health coverage through the expansion.

Bevin says the program is too expensive to continue without his changes.